Gascony?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 641, 18 April 1929, Page 12

Gascony?

CLASSIC DUEL WITH CIMABUE

White Fang and H.B. Cup

THE Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's autumn meeting at Hastings on Friday and Saturday will see the last of the classics and weight-forage races decided, these being respectively the H.B. Stakes and the Ormond Gold Cuj>.

These fixtures at Hastings are always popular with the racing fraternity, for the course is a really good one, and tlic tine big stands give the metropolitan atmosphere. Of late years the club, in common with many others, has not enjoyed the best of good fortune financially, but there is one thing that has maintained its popularity, and consequently increased the coffers. That is the Ormond Gold Cup race, which year after year has attracted our very best milers, and where the horses, the extra good ones, are to be found, there too will be the sport-loving community. Indeed, it may not be too much to say that the inauguration has indirectly been the result of keeping the club going in the face of adversity. However, iC recent meetings in the southern and middle portion of the North Island are any criterion, the Hawke’s Bay body should come in for its share to-morrow and on Saturday of the increasing totalisator turnovers. Such at least is to be hoped for. The course for Friday’s racing promises to provide easy going, for the recent rains have taken the sting out of the ground. A review of to-mor-row’s card follows: Mangatara Hurdles With the advent of the winter season, there, are to be found a good many junipers now making their appearance in preparation for this, so that in some cases horses may be short of a race. This applies to the opening event, the Mangatara Hurdles. Two good performers over the sticks in Bally farnon and Braeman are engaged, and landed at the post lit and well they should take, some beating. Others to be recommended are Atareria, Crishna. Mixed Heather. Raukaponga. Mandarline and Son o' Mine, but one comes back to BRAEMAN BALLYFARXOX High-weight Handicap They are not an extra good lot engaged in this event, and tlic class is really of maiden standard. Two that should come in for a fair measure of support are GRAVERS KINROSS Nursery Handicap Of much different calibre is the two-year-old lield. Hunting Boy showed splendid form at Awapuni last month, and Clever is little removed from classic standard, so that she reads well here. Royal Flyer has not done much

lately, but Cuticle is speedy and has more than a mere show. Valpre’s presence suggests that the stable will also be on hand with Reremoana for the second day; the Chief Ruler iiliy is undoubtedly smart. Royal Line and Te Awaha are endowed with the necessary speed, the latter beating two weak fields at Dannevirke recently with ridiculous ease. Of chose further down the list there are Loidfike, Auda and Ben-Hur. and they are all said to be good. However, when the totalisator bells cease ringing it may be found that the favourites are CLEVER HUNTING BOY Hawke's Bay Stakes In this classic Cimabue will have to carry the full 141 b. penalty and Gascony 101 b. These two stand out, particularly the latter, on account of being bracketed with Great Charter, although he is expected to take on the sprinters. Cimabue is in rare good fettle, and is expected to run a great race. Gascony will find the conditions ideal, and his defeat last month of Paganelli at Awapuni will have to be taken into account. It is very doubtful if Cimabue can concede him 41b. Millais is a useful sprinter, but not up to classic, form. The Hawk cannot be at his best, and of the two-year-olds (who have enjoyed a fair share of success in this race) Admiral Drake may be the pick. However, it is hard to find anything being better backed than GASCONY CIMABUE

Hawke's Bay Cup With only seven engaged in the big handicap it should nevertheless be a good race. Treshani is at the head of affairs. 'l-lis form in the Masterton Cup last week can be overlooked, for he was very badly ridden. Blimp is a useful sort if he can see out the distance. White Fang is the form horse, although the last bit of the journey is liable to trouble him. However, it is? not a great field, and as it is quite on the cards that the pace will not be on

over the fii'st part of the journey he will stand an undeniable chance. The Tilley stable is to bo represented by Cashier, who beat Star Area in the Rangitikei Cup last month, but the Paper Money colt may be troubled by the distance, too. Otherwise he would b© too brilliant for the opposition. Papatu will be favoured by the small field, and his chance reads quite good. High Court did a fine gallop the other morning, and is obviously improving. Goodwill is an improver, and has been indulged in plenty of strong and long work, a style of training all too seldom seen nowadays. Best backed may be WHITE FANG TRESHAM Poukawa Hack Handicap With a field of no loss than 22 engaged the element of luck will no doubt play its part here, although the good straight is in favour of horses devoid of early speed and yet have a good finishing run. Bernera, Second Thought, Sylvan Dell, Flying Binge. St. Melba, Monetize, Imperial Fame, Jvahu Ariki, Dimmer, Keen. Joy Germ, and Tom Byrne are horses that have chances in a race that might easily end in a surprise. Best backed on the day may be SECOND THOUGHT JOY GERM Autumn Handicap This middle distance has in the past furnished some thrilling contests, and to-morrow’s struggle should be no exception. Of the more advanced horses there are Teri. Kaiti. Starboard Light (who spreadeagled his fields both days at Masterton). Jeanette (a winner and runner-up at Feilding), and Queen's Choice read best, but one for whom there should be the greatest respect is the promoted hack. Thrift, the lucky conqueror of Atholspear at Feilding recently. Lower down are likely ones in Tanagra and Spearmiss, the latter’s second in the Masterton Cup being impressive. Perhaps the public will fix upon this pair to plunge on

THRIFT STARBOARD LIGHT Porangahau Handicap The sprint has attracted a much better field than usual, and it should provide an excellent race. The recent form of Toxeuma has been very good, and if racing in the classics over a distance has not impaired his brilliance he should be difficult to head off. Great Charter showed distinct promise in the YV.R.C. Thompson Handicap, and Moa Bird and Kaihoro are fast enough for anything. Epistle, Helotis, Royal Duke and Merry Mint are others that are sure to make it interesting, but the topweights may be the favourites, with most money on hand for TOXEUMA GREAT CHARTER For the meeting the following are the Riding Engagements H. Wiggins.—Goodwill, Royal Duke, Lordlike and Tom Byrne. R. Reed.—Hunting Boy, Comical, Toxeuma, Millais and Kinross. R. J. Mackie.—Tresham and Roval Flyer. A. G. Murray.—Charmaline (if started), Queen’s Choice and Epistle. K. Voitre.—Kaihoro, San Quex (if started) and Silver Tray. T. Metcalf.—Tanagra. C. Robinson.— Atareria. J. Blanche.—Son o’ Mine. J. Potter.—Cashier and Thrift. L. G. Morris.—Cimabue. J. Barry.—Gascony, Great Charter and Clever.